The so-called "Fair Share" bill is a top priority for GOP Gov. Tom Corbett and majority House Republicans, who say it's key to restoring the state's economic competitiveness.

Former Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed an earlier version of the bill in 2005. It became a core issue of Rendell's 2006 re-election campaign against ex-Steelers star Lynn Swann. And Corbett, the former, two-term state attorney general, pushed the issue on the campaign trail last year.

The bill also has the support of the business and medical communities, who have long complained that the current doctrine has been used to target deep-pocketed defendants who might only have limited responsibility in a civil action.

"This restores an element of fairness to civil litigation," the bill's sponsor, Rep. Curt Schroder, R-Chester, said this morning.

Kevin Shivers, the Harrisburg lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Businesses said changes in the state's civil justice system were "critical for businesses large and small."

The panel also voted along party lines to reject amendments sponsored by Democrats that would have, among other things, delayed the implementation of the bill and set up a fund to compensate victims in cases where defendants were unable to make payments.

The legislation could come to a vote before the full House as soon as this week. And opponents say they hope to modify some of the bill's provisions, which they describe as among the most restrictive in the country.

"This is the first inning of a nine-inning game," said Mark Phenecie, a lobbyist for the state's trial bar. "There will be proportionately more support [in the House] to take out the more stinging stuff. This is basically the corporations against the citizens."

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing next week on competing proposals now before the upper chamber. So while some form of civil litigation reform is expected this session, it was not immediately clear this morning whether the House or Senate's version of it will carry the day.